Infant feeding system

Abstract

An apparatus for heating a liquid is described. The apparatus includes a housing. A liquid reservoir is contained within the housing. A fluid circuit conveys liquid from the reservoir to a dispenser. A thermal energy storage unit is contained within the housing and disposed to be in thermal contact with the fluid circuit. The thermal energy storage unit is constructed and arranged to heat liquid as it passes through the fluid circuit. The thermal energy storage unit can include a phase change material or a combination of a phase change material and a high thermal conductivity material.

1 . An apparatus for heating a liquid comprising:
 a housing;   a liquid reservoir contained within the housing;   a fluid circuit for conveying liquid from the reservoir to a dispenser; and   a thermal energy storage unit contained within the housing and disposed to be in thermal contact with the fluid circuit, the thermal energy storage unit constructed and arranged to heat liquid as it passes thru the fluid circuit.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein fluid passes thru the fluid circuit on demand. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the thermal energy storage unit comprises a phase change material. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the thermal energy storage unit comprises a combination of a phase change material and a high thermal conductivity material. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the phase change material is disposed within a matrix of a high thermal conductivity material. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid circuit is disposed on the outer surface of the thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid circuit comprises a plurality of separate fluid circuits disposed on the outer surface of the thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the fluid circuit comprises a plurality of separate fluid circuits disposed on the outer surface of the thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid circuit comprises a continuous helical groove disposed in part along the thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid circuit is located at least partially within the thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the thermal energy storage unit is decoupled from the apparatus for charging. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the phase change material has a phase transition temperature within five degrees Celsius of human body temperature. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the liquid reservoir comprises a removable liner. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the removable liner is collapsible. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing is divided into two sections, the first section containing the thermal energy storage unit for heating fluid to a desired operating temperature, and the second section containing the fluid reservoir for holding fluid prior to being heated by the thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the second section is thermally isolated from the first section. 
   
   
       17 . A method of heating a fluid within a feeding system comprising the acts of:
 containing fluid within a fluid reservoir;   drawing the fluid through a fluid circuit; wherein, fluid within the fluid circuit is in thermal contact with a thermal energy storage unit; and   conducting heat from the thermal energy storage unit to the fluid to heat the fluid.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the fluid is heated substantially on demand. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the act of conducting heat comprises raising the temperature of the fluid to a desired operating temperature 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the desired operating temperature is within approximately five degrees Celsius of normal human body temperature. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the fluid circuit is disposed on the outer surface of the thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising charging the thermal energy storage unit to its operating temperature prior to feeding. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the fluid reservoir further comprises a collapsible liner. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the thermal energy storage unit further comprises a phase change material. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the thermal energy storage unit further comprises a combination of a phase change material and a high thermal conductivity material. 
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for heating a liquid comprising:
 a housing;   a liquid reservoir contained within the housing;   a first fluid circuit conveying liquid from the reservoir to a dispenser;   a heat source in thermal contact with the first fluid circuit; and   a priming system whereby gas is evacuated from the first fluid circuit through a second fluid circuit when the apparatus is in an inverted position.   
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising a vacuum management system to reduce the creation of voids when liquid is drawn down from the reservoir. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the heat source comprises a thermal energy storage unit. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the vacuum management system further comprises a third fluid circuit and a flow control mechanism, where the flow control mechanism allows air to enter the reservoir through the third fluid circuit to reduce vacuum that would otherwise occur as liquid is drawn down. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the priming system further comprises a flow control mechanism permitting gas to discharge through the second fluid circuit. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the second fluid circuit originates in proximity to the fluid dispenser and discharges gas into the reservoir. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the second fluid circuit originates in proximity to the fluid dispenser and discharges gas outside of the apparatus. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising a valve that controls the flow of liquid from the reservoir to the fluid circuit. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the valve prevents liquid from flowing from the fluid circuit to the reservoir section. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein drawing liquid through the fluid circuit causes the reservoir to collapse such that substantially no vacuum space is created by voiding the liquid. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the priming system further comprises collapsing the reservoir to squeeze air out of the fluid circuit. 
   
   
       37 . A method for heating a fluid within a feeding system comprising the acts of:
 conveying liquid from a fluid reservoir through a first fluid circuit to a liquid dispenser;   heating the liquid in the first fluid circuit; and   evacuating air bubbles in the first fluid circuit through a second fluid circuit.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the act of replacing liquid drained from the reservoir with air by allowing air to flow into the reservoir through a third fluid circuit. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the act of collapsing a reservoir lining disposed within the fluid reservoir to expel liquid contained within the reservoir through the first fluid circuit to a liquid dispenser. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  whereby the act of collapsing the reservoir lining further comprises displacing a first concentric shell containing the reservoir relative to a second concentric shell attached to the dispenser. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the reservoir lining is collapsed by gravity. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the reservoir lining is collapsed by suction. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 37  whereby the air bubbles are evacuated through the second fluid circuit into the fluid reservoir. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43  whereby the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the second fluid circuit is prevented by a flow restriction device. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 37  whereby air passing from the first fluid circuit through the second fluid circuit is evacuated to the outside. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45  whereby flow of outside air into the feeding system through the second fluid circuit is prevented by a flow restriction device. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 38  where a flow restriction device prevents flow of liquid from the reservoir through the third fluid circuit. 
   
   
       48 . A charging station for a thermal energy storage unit of a liquid feeding system comprising:
 a heating pad for supplying heat energy to the thermal energy storage unit;   a power supply that is coupled to the heating pad the power supply providing energy to the heating pad; and   a base containing the power supply.   
   
   
       49 . The charging station of  claim 48  wherein the base comprises a mating thread that mates with a thread on a housing of an infant feeding system. 
   
   
       50 . The charging station of  claim 48  further comprising a controller that is coupled to the power supply. 
   
   
       51 . The charging station of  claim 50  wherein the controller further comprises a temperature controller for determining when the thermal energy storage unit is fully charged. 
   
   
       52 . The charging station of  claim 51  wherein the thermal energy storage unit further comprises a phase change material. 
   
   
       53 . The charging station of  claim 52  wherein the controller determines when the phase change material in the thermal energy storage unit has reached a liquid state. 
   
   
       54 . The charging station of  claim 48  wherein the thermal energy storage unit further comprises a phase change material.